Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 16 of 21 categories
Houston
Texas
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $76k less ($235,000 vs $311,100)
Rent averages $387/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,622)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $50,683/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.2%)
Pearland, TX
Pros
Households earn $50,683 more per year on average
92% less violent crime than Houston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Median Home Value
$76k less
$235,000 vs $311,100
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 100.2 on the COL index
Pearland
Median Income
$50,683
$111,123 vs $60,440/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
92% lower
95.9 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $311,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 53.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Pearland leads 16 of 21 categories. Houston wins 5 and Pearland wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Houston to Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $311,100 median home), income ($60,440 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Pearland, TX are about 16 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.